Heat at Lakers
THE STORY: Some games in the NBA do not require any hype, and a meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat is at the top of that list. Still, when Los Angeles hosts Miami on Sunday, there will be an extra buzz surrounding the high-profile matchup, powered by a juicy subplot that has LeBron James playing second-fiddle. The teams are squaring off exactly one week after Heat guard Dwyane Wade smacked Kobe Bryant on a drive in the All-Star Game, leaving the Lakers superstar with a concussion, broken nose and whiplash. Los Angeles also is attempting to halt a four-game losing streak at the hands of Miami.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
ABOUT THE HEAT (28-8): Perhaps looking ahead to Sunday, Miami had its nine-game winning streak halted by Utah on Friday night. The Heat had won each game by at least 10 points in the streak. James has come out of the All-Star break with a pair of five-star double-doubles, pouring in 73 points on 63 percent shooting and grabbing 21 rebounds in the two games. James is 3-0 against the Lakers as a member of the Heat and 10-2 in his last 12 meetings against them overall.
ABOUT THE LAKERS (22-14): The injuries sustained in the All-Star Game have forced Bryant to wear a mask, but it hasn't had an adverse effect on his play. Bryant poured in 38 points in Friday's win over Sacramento and scored 31 in Wednesday's win over Minnesota. Bryant and his teammates played down the revenge factor against Wade. "We'll do what we need to do to get a win," guard Derek Fisher said. "That's always the sweetest revenge." Lakers C Andrew Bynum has recorded eight straight double-doubles.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Heat F Chris Bosh has missed two straight games due to the death of his grandmother. His status for Sunday's game is uncertain.
2. The Lakers have won seven straight at home and are 16-2 at the Staples Center - the second-best home record in the league behind Oklahoma City.
3. Wade, who apologized to Bryant, is keyed up for Sunday's game. "Love it," Wade said. "My favorite matchup is to go against Kobe."